World rank
#35
Tuition from
₹33.56 L
per year, 5 courses
Courses
5
Founded
1864
Students
3140
About University of California - San Francisco
The University of California San Francisco upholds the mission to go beyond San Francisco and bring about impactful change on a national and global level through innovative healthcare approaches and focus on training future Doctors, Nurses, Scientists, and Pharmacists. UCSF abides by values of Professionalism, Integrity, Respect, Diversity, and Excellence.
The University of California San Francisco is a graduate program-specific university that offers 20+ PhD programs and around 13 Master’s. The University is home to over 3,200 students enrolled in the degree program over 1,180 postdoctoral scholars and around 67,000 alumni. Some of the University of California San Francisco schools include the School of Dentistry, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, School of Pharmacy, Global Health Sciences, and many more.
Some important things to know about the University of California San Francisco are mentioned below-
| Particulars | Parameters |
|---|---|
| UCSF Acceptance Rate | 13% |
| UCSF Ranking | #15 |
| UCSF Total No. of Students | 4,000+ |
| UCSF IELTS score | 7 |
| UCSF popular programs |
|
| UCSF Public or Private | Public |
The University of California San Francisco was founded in 1864 when a South Carolina Surgeon Hugh Toland founded a private medical school in San Francisco and is recognized as one of the World’s leading Health Sciences Universities. The Parnassus campus of the university became home to the Biomedical Laboratory, Cancer Research Institute, and some other research institutes in 1958. The University offers three main campuses namely- the Parnassus, Mission Bay, and Mount Zion.
Check out the below videos of University of California San Francisco for more Information:
The final application deadline for the School of Dentistry at the University of California San Francisco is Oct 31, 2026 (Tentative).
Courses and fees
Tuition as published by the source, converted to rupees. Per year unless the course page says otherwise.
Master's (5)
| Course | Duration | Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor of Medicine (MD) | 4 years | ₹50.16 L |
| Master's in Global Health Sciences | 21 months | ₹33.56 L |
| MS in Biomedical Imaging | 1 year | ₹40.23 L |
| MS in Genetic Counseling | 21 months | ₹40.7 L |
| MS in Health data science | 2 years | ₹39.31 L |
Photos of University of California - San Francisco
Rankings
World rank#35
In United States#46
Overall gradeA
| Subject | Grade | Rank | Other tables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biology | A+ | #14 | QS #11 |
| Physics | C | #131 | QS #301 |
Admission requirements
Documents
- SOPNeeded for few courses
- LORNeeded for all courses
- EssaysNot required
- CVNeeded for few courses
- Additional documentsRequired
Application fees
- USD 80
Type of deadline
- Depends on course
Intake Season & Deadlines
- Fall14ᵗʰ Jun 2024
- Summer15ᵗʰ Oct 2024
Campuses
UCSF Parnassus Heights Campus
Main
500 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94143, United States
UCSF Mission Bay Campus
1825 Fourth St., San Francisco, CA 94158 US
UCSF Mount Zion Campus
1600 Divisadero St. San Francisco, CA 94115 US
UCSF Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve Campus
San Francisco, CA 94131, United States
UCSF Fresno Campus
155 N Fresno St, Fresno, CA 93701, USA
Scholarships at University of California - San Francisco
K.C. Mahindra Scholarships For Post-Graduate Studies Abroad
merit
Amount: ₹10 L · Deadline: 2026-04-30
Unimoni Student Stars 2023
merit
5 awards
Amount: ₹3 L ·
J.N. Tata Endowment Loan Scholarship
merit
Deadline: 2026-03-29
Young Women in Public Affairs Awards
merit
37 awards
Amount: ₹4.72 L ·
Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Program
merit
Amount: ₹42.37 L ·
GlobalScholarships.com $3,000 Scholarship
both
1 awards
Amount: ₹2.83 L ·
Amberscholar Scholarship
both
Amount: ₹47.13 L · Deadline: 2026-08-31
HEST 2025 - New Study Abroad Scholarship
need
Amount: ₹3 L ·
Imported from public sources. Confirm amounts and deadlines with the university.
About the University of California San Francisco
The University of California San Francisco upholds the mission to go beyond San Francisco and bring about impactful change on a national and global level through innovative healthcare approaches and focus on training future Doctors, Nurses, Scientists, and Pharmacists. UCSF abides by values of Professionalism, Integrity, Respect, Diversity, and Excellence.
The University of California San Francisco is a graduate program-specific university that offers 20+ PhD programs and around 13 Master’s. The University is home to over 3,200 students enrolled in the degree program over 1,180 postdoctoral scholars and around 67,000 alumni. Some of the University of California San Francisco schools include the School of Dentistry, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, School of Pharmacy, Global Health Sciences, and many more.
Some important things to know about the University of California San Francisco are mentioned below-
| Particulars | Parameters |
|---|---|
| UCSF Acceptance Rate | 13% |
| UCSF Ranking | #15 |
| UCSF Total No. of Students | 4,000+ |
| UCSF IELTS score | 7 |
| UCSF popular programs |
|
| UCSF Public or Private | Public |
The University of California San Francisco was founded in 1864 when a South Carolina Surgeon Hugh Toland founded a private medical school in San Francisco and is recognized as one of the World’s leading Health Sciences Universities. The Parnassus campus of the university became home to the Biomedical Laboratory, Cancer Research Institute, and some other research institutes in 1958. The University offers three main campuses namely- the Parnassus, Mission Bay, and Mount Zion.
Check out the below videos of University of California San Francisco for more Information:
University of California San Francisco Scholarships 2025
University of California San Francisco awards merit-based scholarships to meritorious students, which are awarded as tuition fee waivers, the students are considered for the scholarships once a complete application is submitted to the university. Some of the scholarships awarded to international students are as follows:
- Regents Scholarships
- Professional School Scholarships
- Jayne M. Perkins Foundation Scholarship
- AMA Foundation Physicians of Tomorrow Scholarship
University of California San Francisco Programs
The University of California San Francisco has over 20 PhD programs and around 13 Master’s programs. The University offers courses across multiple professional schools such as the School of Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy. The most popular programs UCSF are PhD in Bioengineering, Biochemistry, and Molecular Biology, Development and Stem Cell Biology, MD in Doctor of Medicine, MS in Biomedical Imaging, Genetic Counselling, Global Health Sciences, MS in Nursing, and many more.
University of California San Francisco Notable Alumni
The University of California Santa Cruz is home to over 67,000 alumni who stay connected with the university even after graduation. Some of the well-known alumni of the University of California San Francisco are mentioned below-
|
Notable Alumni |
Professions |
Pictures |
|---|---|---|
|
Priscilla Chan |
American Philanthropist & Pediatrician |
|
|
William R. Brody |
American Radiologist |
|
|
Tess Gerritsen |
American Novelist |
|
|
Woodger Faugas |
Author |
|
|
Lorraine Day |
American Author |
|
University of California San Francisco Placements
University of California San Francisco offers multiple opportunities to graduates of the university across multiple organizations and sectors. Some of sectors in which university graduates are recruited includes Healthcare Service, Business Development, Education, Research, Operations etc. Top organizations where university graduates are currently recruited are Harvard Medical School, UC Davis Health, Sutter Health etc.
University of California San Francisco Cost
UCSF tuition fee is around INR 26.62 L - 43.88 L varying as per course of choice plus some extra expenses that students will have to incurr in addition to this include cost of accommodation, medical and dental expenses, study material, food/meals, commute or other miscellaneous personal expenses like shopping or money spent on leisure.
Introduction
The final application deadline for the School of Dentistry at the University of California San Francisco is Oct 31, 2026 (Tentative).
University of California - San Francisco Admission 2026
Students seeking admission to University of California - San Francisco have to fill the online application form, submit mandatory documents and pay the application fee. University of California - San Francisco accepts some exam scores at the time of admission, including English language exams. Some of the exam scores that Indian students have to submit for admission are TOEFL and IELTS.
University of California San Francisco Campus Life
University of California San Francisco Campus offers various recreational opportunities to students, maintaining a solid balance between academics and fun. From well equipped fitness centers to student clubs and societies, there's something for all members of student community.
Athletics
University maintains dedicated state of the art fitness centers in its campuses in San Francisco with main attractions being Bakar Fitness Center at UCSF Mission Bay and the Milberry Fitness Center at UCSF Parnassus.
As part of facility, students have access to various world class resources which include- A fully-equipped gym with personal trainers, an indoor swimming pool, outdoor rooftop swimming pool, pilates studio, exercise terrace, NBA full-sized basketball court, Group X & F45 Classes, Locker rooms & Saunas, Squash & racquetball courts, wall climbing & towel service among others.
Student Events
UCSF students organize a number of cultural & fun activities on a regular basis, throughout the academic year. Some core student events include: Recess Time, The Chancellor's Concert Series, Fun in the Library, Block Party at Mission Bay & Staff Appreciation Breakfasts among others.
Housing
The university maintains a number of on-campus accommodation facilities, in the form of apartment & room based housing. Some key accommodation facilities include: Mission Bay Housing, The Tidelands, Aldea San Miguel, Avenue Houses & Academe at 198 among others.
For more information related to student housing at UCSF, students are advised to refer the university's official housing portal.
University of California - San Francisco Ranking 2026
The University of California - San Francisco is considered to be one of the top universities nationally. According to Shiksha Popularity Ranking, University of California - San Francisco ranking stands at #38 in 2026 at national level. Also, the university is ranked #35 in the world by Shiksha Popularity Ranking 2026. Moreover, a few of the University of California - San Francisco courses are also ranked by Shiksha Popularity Ranking as mentioned below-
| University of California - San Francisco Course Name | Shiksha Popularity Ranking 2026 (World) | Shiksha Popularity Ranking 2026 (Country) |
|---|---|---|
| MSN | #14 | #7 |
| LL.M. | #293 | #99 |
| M.A. | #403 | #128 |
| Others PG | #15 | #8 |
| MS | #314 | #164 |
By Other Ranking Bodies
Apart from Shiksha Popularity ranking, US News has also ranked the university globally. It ranks University of California - San Francisco at #16 in 2025. University of California - San Francisco ranking stood at #21 as per ARWU in 2025, globally.
UCSF Vs UCLA Vs UCSD: Which is better?
Uni of California San Francisco, UCLA, and Uni of California San Diego are all top ranking universities in USA. Choosing between them can be confusing. Comparison table mentioned below may help students make more informed decision as which is better between three based on parameters such as acceptance rate courses course fee campus location and rankings among others.
|
Criteria |
University of California San Francisco |
University of California Los Angeles |
University of California San Diego |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Location |
San Francisco, California, USA |
Los Angeles, California |
San Diego, California |
|
Acceptance Rate |
13% |
9% |
25% |
|
Popular Programs |
Nursing, Dentistry |
Psychology, Computer Science |
Psychology, Biology |
|
Tuition Fee (MS) |
INR 29.48 L-INR 39.2 L |
INR 22.83 L-INR 60.06 L |
INR 22.5 L-INR 66.26 L |
|
Shiksha Popularity Rankings |
#150 |
#11 |
#20 |
Common questions
Is UCSF hard to get into?
The University of California, San Francisco does not release data about acceptance rate. However, as per some unofficial sources, University of California-San Francisco, has an acceptance rate of 18%, which means out of every 100 applications, only 18 are selected, which makes is very competitive to get selected into the university.
The university gives preference to students having higher grades or have exceptional academic or research experience. Hence, having higher grades increases your chance of getting selected at University of California San Francisco.
Here is the list of eligibility requirements to get into US Universities.
What it is like to study at University of California, San Francisco?
As per popular student opinion available online, UCSF offers:
- Cutting Edge research opportunities: Various fields of study such as neuroscience is ranked at 3rd globally and 2nd in the USA.
- City of San Francisco: The vibrant of city of San Francisco has a rich history and culture. It is ranked as one of the best cities to live globally and has one of the highest cost of living.
- Extensive PhD courses: UCSF offers PhD in more than 20 different subjects.
Is admission to University of California San Francisco difficult?
The acceptance rate to the University of California San Francisco is around 13% hence making admissions to the university somewhat competitive and selective. Students must also meet other eligibility criteria stated by the university such as the minimum English Language Proficiency Test scores accepted by the university. Each graduate programme offered by UCSF has its own eligibility criteria thus, students must look into the admission requirements for the course of their preference.
Is there any university test for admission in the B Pharm course at the University of California - San Francisco Campus?
The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) does not offer a BPharm program. Instead, it is a graduate health sciences campus that offers advanced biomedical research and graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions. For admission to graduate programs at UCSF, a minimum of a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with at least a 3.0 (B) grade point average is required. Additionally, for pharmacy programs in the U.S., including those at other institutions, the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) is often a prerequisite for admission.
Is University of California, San Francisco's Pharmacy course good?
The UC San Francisco, offers graduate and PhD level course in pharmacy. As per QS world Ranking by Subjects 2023, Pharmacy programme at UCSF is ranked at 9 globally. The first year tuition fees for the Doctor in Pharmacy is INR 9.78L.
Does University of California San Francisco offer a Bachelors program?
The University of California San Francisco is a Graduate program-centered university and does not offer a Bachelor’s degree. UCSF has over 3,200 students enrolled in the degree programme and over 1,180 postdoctoral scholars. The University offers four professional schools namely: Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy.
Does University of California (San Francisco campus) offer M.Sc in Nursing?
The University of California San Francisco offers a Nursing Master of Science programme that focuses on preparing the graduates of the course in advanced practice roles such as Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Practitioner, Nurse-Midwife, Administrators, faculty, and many more. The course aims to offer advanced knowledge, assessment skills, leadership development, clinical practice, and many more. An MSc in Nursing offered at the University of California San Francisco provides over 16 areas of specialisation and around nine minors. The Nursing graduate programs offered by UCSF are based in the Parnassus Campus of the university. The graduates of an MSc in Nursing secure employment as nurse practitioners or clinical nurse specialists or even in research and leadership positions.
Is pursuing a Doctor of Medicine at the University of California San Francisco a good option?
Students wishing to pursue a Doctor of Medicine can consider the University of California San Francisco as an option. The main object of MD offered at UCSF is to fulfill competencies like patient care, medical knowledge, interpersonal and communication skills, practice-based learning, system-based practice, and interpersonal collaboration. The curriculum of the Doctor of Medicine offered at the University of California San Francisco is to impart knowledge to students in basic and clinical Science primarily and then move towards advancement of students in patient care and system improvement skills and then select a scholarly project that best suits the career goals of the students.
Where do UCSF students live?
UCSF is known to maintain a number of housing properties around its Mission Bay Area, Mount Zion & Parnassus campuses. Students get access to all essential facilities needed to maintain a decent student lifestyle such as bedrooms, study halls, gym, recreational halls, laundry, & bathroom facilities.
Not to forget, free-access to the UCSF shuttle service that offers a convinient mode of transport to & from the university campus. Students enrolled in a degree programme can stay for upto five years as part of campus housing facilities.
Is University of California San Francisco a top ranking university?
The University of California San Francisco is one of the top-ranking public universities in San Francisco, US. The University secured a rank of #15 in the Best Global Universities In 2024 according to the top-ranking publishers and also received an overall university grade of A+ by the Shiksha Study Abroad grading system. Some popular courses like Biology and Physics have also been graded an A+ and C respectively.
What is the rank of University of California San Francisco?
According to the top-ranking publishers, the University of California ranking for 2024 is #15 among the Best Global Universities. Moreover, the University also secured an overall university grade of A+ by the Shiksha Study Abroad grading system. Courses such as Biology and Physics offered by the university have been graded an A+ and C.
Is University of California San Francisco no.1 university in the United States of America?
UCSF is one of the top public universities located in San Francisco, US. The University was graded an overall university grade of A+ by the Shiksha Study Abroad grading system along with a rank of #15 among the Best National Universities in 2024 according to the top-ranking publishers. Shiksha Study Abroad grading system has also been graded A+ and C to courses like Biology and Physics offered by the University of California San Francisco.
Which university has a higher chance of acceptance: University of California San Francisco or University of California Los Angeles?
Both UCSF & UCLA are considered among the best higher educational institutions in the US. However, admissions at both institutions are very competitive as both recieve thousands of applications for a very limited number of seats.
The University of California: San Francisco acceptance rate is 13%, while that of UCLA stands at 9%.
Though both institutions are very selective, securing a seat at the San Francisco campus is marginally easier than doing so at the Los Angeles campus.
Similar universities in United States
Nearest by ranking, so these are the ones you would realistically compare against.
